And rumors4 of his poverty and the destitute5 condition of his family brought sorrow and anxiety to the hearts of many of his loyal friends, who were only too ready and willing to offer him all the help and assistance that would be needed, but they knew, too, his inflexible6 pride and independence, and realized how futile7 would be their offers of friendly assistance.
For some days Lady Nancy Gordon had been anxiously puzzling her brain for some thought or scheme whereby she could help the unfortunate Bard8 who was plunged9 in such depths of poverty and misfortune. She was thinking of him now as she sat at the harpsichord10, her fingers wandering idly over the keyboard in a running accompaniment to her thoughts. Her father softly entered the room at this juncture11, but she did not turn her head nor intimate that she was aware of his presence. Presently[340] her touch grew more and more tender. Anon she glided12 into one of those dreamily joyous13, yet sorrowful, mazurkas, that remind one of gay wild flowers growing in rich profusion14 over silent and forgotten graves. Lady Nancy had reason to boast of herself, for she was a perfect mistress of the instrument—and as her fingers closed on the final chord, she wheeled round abruptly15 on the chair, and rising to her feet greeted her father with a tender smile. For a moment she regarded him in thoughtful silence, then as he laid down his paper, she walked up to him, a frown of displeasure wrinkling her smooth, white forehead.
“I think, father,” she said deliberately16, with a haughty17 uptilt of her pretty nose, “I think it is perfectly18 disgraceful the way that hackney scribbler who writes for yon journal,” indicating the paper on the table, “either through malice19 or ignorance affixes20 such degrading epithets21 to the name of the Bard of Scotland, for by no other name will I ever speak of Robert Burns,” and she flashed an angry glance at the offending paper.
“Poor obstinate22 lad,” sighed the Duke thoughtfully. His mind went back to the day after the garden party at Glencairn Hall, when he had sent for Robert to honor them with his presence at Gordon House, and how the poet had taken offense23 at some thoughtless remark of his, given in kindly24 spirit; how with haughty pride, and wounded dignity,[341] he had gotten up from the table and after thanking them for their hospitality, declared he had not come to be insultingly patronized and pitied, and refusing to listen to reason, or explanation, he had left in bitter resentment25 and blind misunderstanding. Lady Nancy too was thinking the same thoughts, and after a moment’s meditation26 she looked into her father’s kindly face and remarked earnestly:
“Father, something must be done for him and his family at once.”
“Can we not get up a subscription29 for him?” she asked. He shook his head slowly.
“’Twould be to no purpose, Nancy,” he returned thoughtfully. “He would refuse all offers of pecuniary30 aid. I know well his independent principles, and so do you.”
They talked over many plans and projects, but none seemed feasible, and they were about to give up in despair, when Henry Mackenzie was announced. He had just arrived from Ellisland, and immediately spoke31 of his visit to the poet, and under what painful conditions he had found him—told them of his promise to Burns to secure the office of supervisor32 for him, and had called to consult with his lordship concerning its bestowal33.
Nancy listened with bated breath and tear-dimmed eyes as he spoke of the change in Robert, his poverty,[342] his indomitable courage and independence, in spite of the ravages34 of disease and the black, gloomy outlook for future prosperity.
“Nancy and I were just discussing some means of alleviating35 his distress36 as you entered,” said the Duke as Mr. Mackenzie finished his recital37. “And it affords me much gratification to be able to assist him to the office of supervisor of the excise38 and its attendant increase of salary.”
“’Twill be a God-send to him, believe me, my lord,” returned Mr. Mackenzie feelingly.
“The news will be dispatched to him at once!” cried Nancy with sparkling eyes. “’Twill relieve his present distress of mind.”
With that assurance, Mr. Mackenzie rose, and thanking them for their kindness in behalf of the indigent39 poet, took his leave.
Having finished luncheon40, the old Duke excused himself, and going to his study, he made out the necessary papers of promotion41 for the struggling exciseman, with many a shake of his head and pitying sigh for the young genius who was reduced to such straits—driven to such a commonplace calling, through his headstrong recklessness, his foolish ideas of independence. Having signed them he sat back in thoughtful meditation. Suddenly the door opened, and his daughter asked permission to enter. Having gained it, she crossed to her father, and sinking down beside him, in an eager, impetuous[343] manner quickly laid before him a project which had been formulating42 in her active brain while he was busy writing out the papers.
“Now, papa, listen!” she exclaimed earnestly. “’Twill take but a day’s ride to reach Dumfries, and think how delighted he will be to receive the promotion from your hands,” and she slyly noted44 the effect of the bit of delicate flattery.
He frowned and pursed his lips for a moment, and idly tapped the folded papers against his knee in thought. These signs boded45 success, as Nancy well knew, and springing to her feet she gave him a big hug that set him gasping46.
“Look here, Mistress Nancy!” he exclaimed as soon as he recovered his breath, “why do you want to take this wearisome journey at this season of the year, just to visit the home of this poor exciseman?” and he wonderingly regarded the face that had suddenly grown flushed and pensive47, as she looked with worshipful eyes at the large engraving48 over the fireplace, which contained the figure of Burns in a characteristic attitude, reading one of his poems to the group of people that surrounded him.
“I want to see him once more before the fire of his genius grows cold,” she answered dreamily. “I want to see him in his home with his—his wife and[344] children around him.” She might have told him that she was heart-hungry for a sight of that dark, glowing face, the flashing black eyes that had thrilled her with such blissful pain, for the sound of that rich, majestic49 voice, that had so often stirred the uttermost depths of her heart. She felt that the yearning50 of her soul would not be satisfied till she had seen him again, spoken with him. She hoped, yet dreaded51, that the sight of his changed face, his miserable52 surroundings, the commonplaceness of it all, of meeting the exciseman with his wife and children around him, rather than the idealized poet, would silence forever the strange unrest of her soul, banish53 all thoughts of sentiment from her mind, and destroy the spell of glamour54 which he had all unconsciously thrown about her. These thoughts flew through her mind with lightning speed while her father was making up his mind how best to dissuade55 her from her purpose.
“I fear me, Nancy, ’twill give us both more pain than pleasure,” he said finally. “We may even lose our respect for him.”
“Don’t say that, father!” she cried reproachfully. “No matter how low he may have fallen, and I protest that fame has exaggerated his misconduct woefully, we people of Scotland cannot forget nor overlook the priceless treasure he has put into our thankless hands, a treasure that will be handed down to posterity56 with ever increasing regard, admiration[345] and love for its author,” and her flashing blue eyes, that had so often reminded Robert of Mary Campbell, and which had formed a closer tie of comradeship between them, again sought and lingered upon the engraved57 likeness58 of her hero. The singular beauty of Lady Nancy Gordon was illumined by that happy expression of countenance59 which results from the union of cultivated tastes and superior understanding with the finest affections of mind, and the influence of such attractions had been keenly felt by the ardent60 poet, who was not altogether unaware61 of the impression he had made upon her heart, which was as susceptible62 to the charms of wit and intellect as was his own. As she stood gazing up at the picture, she thought with an odd little smile how she had openly sought for his favors, delighted in his apparent preference for her society even while she told herself she knew he was only attracted by her brilliancy—that she appealed to his intellect—charmed him by her wit, her cleverness. No, she had never touched his heart, she thought with a sigh, and a look of sadness came into her thoughtful eyes.
“I fear, Nancy, that Robert still harbors feelings of resentment against us,” protested the Duke after a pause. “I know he would rather not see us.”
But Lady Nancy overruled his objection. “Then all the more reason for our assuring him of our[346] friendship and asking his forgiveness for any offense we have unintentionally offered him.”
Seeing all arguments were useless, the old Duke finally consented, and with a hug and a kiss, Nancy left him and proceeded to make arrangements for their speedy departure for Ayrshire.
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1
profligacy
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| n.放荡，不检点，肆意挥霍 | |
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intemperance
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| n.放纵 | |
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slanderous
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| adj.诽谤的，中伤的 | |
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4
rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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inflexible
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| adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的 | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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bard
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| n.吟游诗人 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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10
harpsichord
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| n.键琴（钢琴前身） | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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19
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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20
affixes
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| v.附加( affix的第三人称单数 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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21
epithets
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| n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 ) | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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subscription
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| n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方） | |
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30
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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32
supervisor
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| n.监督人，管理人，检查员，督学，主管，导师 | |
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bestowal
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| 赠与，给与； 贮存 | |
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ravages
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| 劫掠后的残迹，破坏的结果，毁坏后的残迹 | |
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alleviating
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| 减轻，缓解，缓和( alleviate的现在分词 ) | |
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36
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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38
excise
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| n.(国产)货物税；vt.切除，删去 | |
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39
indigent
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| adj.贫穷的，贫困的 | |
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40
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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41
promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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42
formulating
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| v.构想出( formulate的现在分词 )；规划；确切地阐述；用公式表示 | |
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43
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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44
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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45
boded
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| v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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46
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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47
pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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48
engraving
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| n.版画；雕刻（作品）；雕刻艺术；镌版术v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的现在分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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49
majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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50
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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51
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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52
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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53
banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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54
glamour
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| n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住 | |
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55
dissuade
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| v.劝阻，阻止 | |
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56
posterity
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| n.后裔，子孙，后代 | |
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57
engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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58
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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60
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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61
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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susceptible
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| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
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